Southeastern Utah fishing report

SCOFIELD RESERVOIR: Anglers report that the ice thickness ranges from 7 to 10 inches, depending on the location and water temperature. Aquatics Program Manager Paul Birdsey reports good fishing in the dam channel and along the east side using a variety of baits. Anglers are catching fish in a range of sizes, from 9 to 24 inches, but most are on the small side of the scale. Tony Wright, Division sensitive species biologist, fished for three hours on Dec. 14 and caught seven 9- to 10-inch trout. He mostly caught cutthroats and one was just under 15 inches. Tony used a green lead head jig, tipped with meal worms or chub meat, and found fish throughout the water column. Ben and Mike also fished on Dec. 14. Ben caught 18 small trout using lead head jigs tipped with minnow meat. Mike and his friend caught 36 trout in the dam cove, though most were small. They used small green or yellow ice jigs tied 8 to 10 inches below a small silver or gold attractor such as a Kastmaster. Scofield State Park will sponsor a fishing contest on January 8 from 7 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. for rainbow trout only. The event will offer $1,000 in prizes. Pre-registration is strongly recommended. You can pre-register by calling Dan Richardson at Huntington State Park at 435-687-2491 or 435-687-9559. Registrations may also be accepted at Scofield State Park on the day of the event.

ELECTRIC LAKE: Except for small areas, that freeze and thaw, the lake remains open water. You should consider any entry on to the ice to be hazardous.

HUNTINGTON NORTH RESERVOIR: The reservoir has reopened in many locations. Park rangers strongly discourage ice fishing and have been turning ice anglers away. The water level is down.